Published: Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 2:18 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 5:52 p.m.

SARASOTA - The Sarasota High band director who was accused of making unwanted sexual advances against a former student will not be charged with a crime, officials said Thursday.

Facts

EXCERPTS FROM SHERIFF'S INVESTIGATION REPORT

The following are excerpts from the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office investigative report.

From the interview with the 17-year-old girl who said Roseboom groped her:"She said it was not unusual for her to go to lunch with Roseboom; however, on this particular day he told her to meet him at his house and they would go from there. (She) said that he had taken the day off from school, which seemed odd and she had never been to his house when he was there by himself. (She) said that one she was inside his house, there was no "Hi" or anything; he just pushed her against the wall, started touching her and putting his tongue into her mouth. (She) described his behavior as "so weird, so random." (She) said that she told him you better not do this you will get into trouble and Roseboom stated, "You better not tell anyone." (She) said she convinced him they should just leave and go to lunch. She said that he gathered his things then he grabbed her and started kissing and touching her again. She convinced him to leave and go to lunch and she got into his car with him. (She) said that she quickly realized that was a bad decision because Roseboom was trying to hold her hand and was rubbing his hand on her leg as he was driving.

"(She) said that they went to the Panera near his house and that she had to buy him lunch because he did not have any money. (She) said that the lunch discussion was about him and how he went to a Bachelor Party on a cruise ship. She said he was openly discussing all the young women he was with while on the cruise and talking about all these terrible stories about cheating on his wife. ..."

From the interview with another female student:(She) stated that Roseboom is really close to some of the girls. She said that Roseboom does frequently hug the female students and kiss them on the forehead. She said that he frequently compliments some of the girls about their clothing such as saying those pants really compliment your figure. She said the only other incident, which seemed strange was on a trip when the girls were sleeping on the bus, Roseboom walked down the aisle taking pictures.

The band director — a well known figure at Sarasota High School — was placed on paid administrative leave Feb. 28 and then later reassigned to human resources clerical work because of the ongoing investigation.

District spokesman Scott Ferguson, who was notified Thursday of the news, said no date has been set yet for Roseboom to return to the classroom.

The allegations stem from a December incident in which a former student, now a 17-year-old at State College of Florida, drove to pick Roseboom up at his house for lunch.

Roseboom, a well-known figure at the school, was the “go-to” teacher and like a father figure to many students, the girl told authorities, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office investigation report.

But the girl, who babysat for Roseboom and his wife, thought it was unusual to meet him at his house. It was the first time she had been alone there with Roseboom, who had taken the day off from work, the report said.

“Once she was in his house, there was no ‘Hi' or anything. He just pushed her against the wall, started touching her and putting his tongue in her mouth,” the report said. The girl “described his behavior as ‘so weird, so random.' ”

The girl warned Roseboom that he would get in trouble if they moved further, and Roseboom instructed her not to tell anyone, she told authorities during their investigation.

The student convinced Roseboom to go to lunch at Panera Bread, but “she quickly realized that was a bad decision because Roseboom was trying to hold her hand and was rubbing his hand on her leg as he was driving.”

At the restaurant, Roseboom did not have any money, so the girl paid $18.91 for their food, the report said.

The conversation at lunch was different from their normal talks: Roseboom allegedly mentioned his affairs and other young women he met during a bachelor party on a cruise ship, she told police in the report.

“Roseboom had a totally different personality, and it seemed so odd that all of this was happening in one day,” according to her testimony.

The next day, Roseboom reportedly texted the girl and invited her over, saying he was alone at the house with his daughter for three hours.

The girl told authorities “he was such a different person, that she loved to death before this happened and that this has just destroyed her.”

“She doesn't trust him anymore and she is somewhat fearful he might retaliate against her,” according to the investigation.

The investigation

On Feb. 27, the girl contacted her former Sarasota Middle School counselor to talk about filing a complaint.

Authorities interviewed current and former students, teachers, school administrators and others during the investigation.

Their testimony often conflicted. Some described Roseboom as a wonderful teacher who had never done anything inappropriate with his students.

Others said there were rumors circulating about him, and Roseboom was known to hug female students, kiss them on the forehead or comment on what they were wearing.

Roseboom, 32, is paid $47,390 annually and has worked at Sarasota County Schools since Aug. 1, 2006.

After an investigation, the Sheriff's Office submitted an affidavit to the State Attorney's Office recommending Roseboom be charged with two counts of battery, according to an interdepartmental memorandum.

But prosecutors said in the same document that “while the victim appears credible, there is not enough evidence to pursue charges at this time.”

Roseboom had not been asked to take a polygraph test, so his attorney said he took one independently through a polygraph expert who regularly works with law enforcement. He passed the test, Collins said.

“It was the only way he could show he was truthful when he said it didn't happen,” he said.

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - The Sarasota High band director who was accused of making unwanted sexual advances against a former student will not be charged with a crime, officials said Thursday.</p><div class="art_item art_item_inset art_item_facts">
<h3>Facts</h3>
<h4>ONLINE DOCUMENT</h4>
<p><A HREF="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/693473-state-attorneys-office-report-declining-to.html" target="_blank">Click here to read the State Attorney's Office report declining to prosecute John Roseboom</a></p>
</div>
<p>The State Attorney's Office ruled that the “victim appears credible,” but there were not enough witnesses or evidence to charge John Roseboom with two counts of battery.</p><p>“He's anxious to get back to work,” said Peter Collins, Roseboom's attorney. “He's pleased there aren't going to be any charges, although disappointed he had to go through this process.”</p><p>Roseboom “unequivocally, 100 percent denies any inappropriate contact,” Collins said.</p><p>The band director — a well known figure at Sarasota High School — was placed on paid administrative leave Feb. 28 and then later reassigned to human resources clerical work because of the ongoing investigation.</p><p>District spokesman Scott Ferguson, who was notified Thursday of the news, said no date has been set yet for Roseboom to return to the classroom.</p><p>The allegations stem from a December incident in which a former student, now a 17-year-old at State College of Florida, drove to pick Roseboom up at his house for lunch.</p><p>Roseboom, a well-known figure at the school, was the “go-to” teacher and like a father figure to many students, the girl told authorities, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office investigation report.</p><p>But the girl, who babysat for Roseboom and his wife, thought it was unusual to meet him at his house. It was the first time she had been alone there with Roseboom, who had taken the day off from work, the report said.</p><p>“Once she was in his house, there was no 'Hi' or anything. He just pushed her against the wall, started touching her and putting his tongue in her mouth,” the report said. The girl “described his behavior as 'so weird, so random.' ”</p><p>The girl warned Roseboom that he would get in trouble if they moved further, and Roseboom instructed her not to tell anyone, she told authorities during their investigation.</p><p>The student convinced Roseboom to go to lunch at Panera Bread, but “she quickly realized that was a bad decision because Roseboom was trying to hold her hand and was rubbing his hand on her leg as he was driving.”</p><p>At the restaurant, Roseboom did not have any money, so the girl paid $18.91 for their food, the report said.</p><p>The conversation at lunch was different from their normal talks: Roseboom allegedly mentioned his affairs and other young women he met during a bachelor party on a cruise ship, she told police in the report.</p><p>“Roseboom had a totally different personality, and it seemed so odd that all of this was happening in one day,” according to her testimony.</p><p>The next day, Roseboom reportedly texted the girl and invited her over, saying he was alone at the house with his daughter for three hours.</p><p>The girl told authorities “he was such a different person, that she loved to death before this happened and that this has just destroyed her.”</p><p>“She doesn't trust him anymore and she is somewhat fearful he might retaliate against her,” according to the investigation.</p><p><b>The investigation</b></p><p>On Feb. 27, the girl contacted her former Sarasota Middle School counselor to talk about filing a complaint.</p><p>Authorities interviewed current and former students, teachers, school administrators and others during the investigation.</p><p>Their testimony often conflicted. Some described Roseboom as a wonderful teacher who had never done anything inappropriate with his students.</p><p>Others said there were rumors circulating about him, and Roseboom was known to hug female students, kiss them on the forehead or comment on what they were wearing.</p><p>Roseboom, 32, is paid $47,390 annually and has worked at Sarasota County Schools since Aug. 1, 2006.</p><p>After an investigation, the Sheriff's Office submitted an affidavit to the State Attorney's Office recommending Roseboom be charged with two counts of battery, according to an interdepartmental memorandum.</p><p>But prosecutors said in the same document that “while the victim appears credible, there is not enough evidence to pursue charges at this time.”</p><p>Roseboom had not been asked to take a polygraph test, so his attorney said he took one independently through a polygraph expert who regularly works with law enforcement. He passed the test, Collins said.</p><p>“It was the only way he could show he was truthful when he said it didn't happen,” he said.</p>